Own domain vs Wix or Squarespace: what a small business should pick
Website builders are easy to start and cost monthly forever. Here is how an own-domain site compares for a local business.
The real difference
Wix and Squarespace rent you a builder by the month. You do the work yourself and pay each month as long as the site is up. A done-for-you site on your own domain is built for you, and you own the domain name.
Your domain should be yours either way
Whatever you choose, register the .com in your own name and keep the login. If the domain sits in someone else's account, they control your web address.
When a DIY builder makes sense
You enjoy tinkering, you have the time, and you can write your own service pages. Expect several hours to a few days for a first version, then ongoing updates.
When done-for-you makes more sense
You are busy doing the actual work, you want it live this week, and you would rather see the finished site before paying. That is how Kingpin Sites works: free preview first, $399 once if you approve it, first year of hosting included, then $150 a year.
Ask before you buy anything
What is the renewal price? Do I own the domain? Can I move the site if I leave? Are text edits included? A provider that hesitates on those is a warning sign.
Free preview within one business day. $399 once if you like it.